(or other gift-giving times) Here are some ways to save money at Christmas or other gift giving times. During this season of the year, money is quickly spent, so I hope these ideas will help you with your shopping budget. I hope you have stress-free shopping and wrapping experiences this Christmas. How do you save…
I know God hears our prayers. How? Experience confirms it. Today, I will share about answered prayers. An answered prayer When my youngest daughter, Emily, neared her 10th birthday, she suffered with a sudden case of uneven legs. Prior to this, she suffered with strange bouts of a sickness that caused her to vomit for…
Adjusting expectations happens sometimes with seemingly unrelated events. Have you ever felt like you failed God by not living up to certain perceived expectations? I have. Light-bulb moments occurred when I read about an author’s childhood missionary dream and when I took a walk with a friend who made an innocent comment that struck me.…
Young readers will love Ophelia Starcluck Saves the Galaxy by Kristen Gwen. While written for kids 8-12, I think parents will enjoy reading the story with younger kids too. About Ophelia Starcluck Set on a space ship filled with different types of birds, the story is filled with gentle humor and meaningful life applications. The…
The Text by Julane Fisher reminds me of the classic 1984 by George Orwell. I read that in high school years ago, but the feelings from the novel lasted all these years. Both dystopian novels address government control and lack of privacy. In The Text, 16-year-old Rami and her friend Fin play a coding game…
Did you know that empty nest syndrome is a real thing? I didn’t, so becoming aware of this has at least explained some of the feelings I’ve experienced. Some people struggle with it for a few weeks or months, but some for a few years. I guess I fall into the latter category. Lucky me.…
Nobody ever talks about how sad it is to be stuck in the “in-betweens,” which really doesn’t help anybody. What do I mean about in-betweens? There are lots of in-betweens such as being in-between dreams and broken dreams, full houses and empty nests, what was and what will be, grief and healing, jobs or careers,…
I have an ugly secret to share. By exposing it, I hope to kill it and move on, and save you from the same mistake. Deep down, I knew I harbored unforgiveness, but I felt it was righteous indignation over a terrible wrong, so I nursed it and fed it. And it grew into a…
One way to save money is to plan your meal menus for the week or month. Planning your menus helps you determine your grocery list. While shopping, stick to your list and don’t add on to it. (By the way, don’t shop when you’re hungry!) Weekly vs monthly menu plans If I plan menus for…
Today, I will share with you some ideas for keeping your toddlers happy while you homeschool. You can keep these items in totes or in a cupboard specifically for school time, if you want. May these toddler activity ideas spur your own creative ideas! Toddler activity ideas Recipes Kool-Aid Fun Dough Ingredients: 2 1/2-3 cups…